Moroccan Braised Lamb Shanks Recipes

L'HAM M'HAMMAR RECIPE - MOROCCAN ROASTED LAMB OR BEEF WITH ONION CONFIT

Steps:

• Combine the spice rub ingredients in a bowl or with pestle and mortar. Rub the mixture over the meat and massage it thoroughly. Cover and leave in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.
• When ready to cook, transfer the meat to a heavy-bottomed, deep pot or pressure cooker. Add the sliced onions, saffron threads, water and oil. (Note: Use 1/3 cup water if preparing in a conventional pot and 1 cup water if preparing in a pressure cooker.)
• If cooking in a regular pot, cover and simmer the meat for about 2 hours or until tender, checking occasionally to add a little water if the liquids appear to be drying out. If cooking in a pressure cooker, cover and cook with medium-low pressure for about 80 minutes or until tender, swirling the pot occasionally to be sure that liquids remain and the meat and onions aren't burning. Interrupt to add a little more water only if necessary.
• The meat is cooked to proper tenderness when you can easily pinch it off the bone. When done, remove it from the pot and cover with plastic so it doesn't dry out.
• If you are serving this dish in the next hour, place the meat in a 400° F (200° C) preheated oven for about 20-25 min, turning it occasionally to brown it on all sides. Adjust the browning to your liking.
• In the meantime, continue cooking the onions, stirring frequently and taking care not to scorch them, until they have reduced to a paste-like texture. The cooking oil should be the oil liquid you see in the pot.
• To serve, place the meat in a warm dish and surround it by the onion paste (daghmira). Traditionally it is eaten by hand directly from the platter, using pieces of bread in lieu of a fork.

MOROCCAN-STYLE LAMB SHANKS WITH APRICOTS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a heavy pot over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and cook until they release their aroma for about 1 minute. Stir in the onions, garlic, and sweet potatoes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally so potatoes don't stick.
• Put the lamb shanks in the pot and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add tomatoes, apricots, and harissa. Season with salt and pepper. If mixture seems a bit dry, add a splash of water. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cover. Simmer until meat is tender and falling off the bone, one hour or more, depending on the size of the shanks. Stir occasionally.
• Heat a small skillet over low heat and add the slivered almonds. Stir and cook until almonds are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Place couscous in a large bowl and slowly pour in lukewarm water until just covered. Let sit until water is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Toss couscous with 2 tablespoons olive oil and toasted almonds. Transfer to a serving dish. Spoon the lamb over the couscous and serve.

MOROCCAN LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan140°C/gas 3. Bash the cumin and coriander in a pestle and mortar or whizz together in a mini food processor, then add the ginger, garlic and salt, and work or whizz to a rough paste. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole (large enough for the lamb shanks to fit snugly) over a high heat. Add the lamb shanks and brown well all over. Remove and set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onions to the casserole and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the spice paste and harissa and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and stock, return the shanks to the casserole and stir together. Bring to the boil and drop in the cinnamon stick. Cover with a lid, transfer to the oven and cook for 2 hours, turning the lamb once or twice.
• Stir the dried fruit into the casserole and return to the oven, uncovered, for a further 30 minutes or until the lamb is almost falling off the bone. Serve with hot couscous flavoured with mint, coriander, preserved lemon and lemon juice.

BRAISED MOROCCAN LAMB SHANKS WITH POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• Let lamb come to room temp (unwrap on counter 20-30 mins) and season lamb generously with kosher salt.
• Heat oil in an extra large heavy bottomed Dutch oven. Working in batches, sear the lamb shanks on all sides over medium high (or medium) heat. Take your time here and do this well. Set the shanks aside. Drain the oil.
• Add the water to the same pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up any browned bits. Simmer 3-4 minutes. To the water, add onion, garlic, fennel, beet, orange peel, herbs and spices and salt to the pan and stir until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Add the wine, and gently simmer until alcohol cooks off, another 5 mintues. Add the pomegrantate juice, chicken stock and maple syrup, stir to combine. Bring to a simmer.
• nestle the lamb shanks down in the liquid,on their side, meaty side down, bring to a simmer on the stove, then cover well, and place in a 325 F for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours or until meat is tender (internal temp 195-205F) Keep in mind that larger shanks will take longer to cook, smaller shanks, less time, so if in doubt, check at 1 1/2 hours- add more time if not tender. Basically, meat will get more tender as it braises, but you may need to add more broth or stock if using big shanks. So check liquid level.
• When shanks are tender, remove from pan, rest on a platter or baking dish in a warm spot like the stove top 20-30 minutes. While resting make the sauce.
• Make the sauce. Strain the braising liquid. If making ahead, you could let this cool in the fridge to allow more fat to separate (it will rise and harden) or skim off warm fat with a ladle. Place 1 1/2 cups, skimmed braising liquid in a small sauce pan and simmer, reducing just until it tastes flavorful. It really doesn't need to reduce until "thickened" (see notes) which may result in flavors getting too salty or condensed. Add a little splash of vinegar. Season it with salt and pepper. Sometimes I'll add a little squeeze of orange juice. Up to you.
• the lamb shanks on a platter, spoon the flavorful sauce over top, garnish with fresh pomegrante seeds and a few sprigs of rosemary.
• the lamb shank over the polenta or couscous, spoon the flavorful sauce overtop. Garnish with fresh pomegrate seeds. Fresh parsley is nice here or a sprig of rosemary, something green. ????

MOROCCAN-STYLE BRAISED BABY LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/gas 4.
• For the spice paste: Combine the saffron with the 2 teaspoons of boiling water, and leave to soak.
• Heat a small skillet over high heat, then dry-roast the fennel seeds, star anise, cardamom pods, cumin seeds, cinnamon and Sichuan peppercorns for about 2 minutes, or until fragrant. When the spices have cooled, remove the seeds from the cardamom pods, then place them with the dry-roasted seeds in an electric grinder, and grind until the mixture is finely ground. Set aside.
• In a suitable container, grind the chillies, garlic, ginger, cilantro stems and roots, turmeric and galangal with an electric stick-blender until you have a coarse paste. Lightly crush the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle or a heavy rolling pin, and add to the chilli/garlic mixture with the sea salt. Add the shallots, saffron strands with their soaking water, paprika, the reserved ground spices and the olive oil to this paste, and mix well to combine.
• Heat a heavy-based, medium-sized frying pan over high heat, then add the paste and cook, stirring regularly, for about 5 minutes or until fragrant. Reduce heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Add the palm sugar and fish sauce, increase the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for a further 2 minutes, or until mixture is slightly caramelised. Remove from stove and set aside.
• Brush a roasting tin with some olive oil and heat on the stove top. Season the lamb shanks with salt and white pepper, then add to the roasting pan and seal until lightly browned on all sides.
• Drain off any excess oil and increase the heat. Drizzle the prepared spice paste over lamb, and toss and stir the contents of the tin to ensure the shanks are well coated, and to seal in flavours. Add the tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, onions, dates, apricots and bay leaves, and stir to combine.
• Remove the tin from the stove, pour over stock and cover with foil. Bake for 45 minutes, then remove foil and bake for a further 1 hour, or until lamb is very tender and well browned.
• When the meat is done, drizzle with lime juice and fish sauce before serving.
• Serve with cous cous, rice or crusty bread and a large green salad.

MOROCCAN STYLE BRAISED LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
• In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil.
• Season the shanks with salt and pepper.
• Add the shanks to the casserole, 2 at a time, and cook over moderately high heat until browned all over, about 12 minutes.
• Transfer to a plate and wipe out the casserole.
• Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in the casserole.
• Add the onion, carrots and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring about 5 minutes until lightly browned.
• Add the cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg and cook, stirring until lightly toasted, about
• 1 minute.
• Add the tomato paste and harissa and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the wine and boil until reduced to a thick syrup, about 4 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and 1 cup of the chicken stock to the casserole. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil.
• Nestle the lamb shanks in the liquid.
• Cover tightly and braise in the oven for about 3 hours, basting occasionally, until the meat is almost falling off the bone.
• Transfer the shanks to a platter and cover with foil. Leave the oven on.
• Spread the almonds in a pie pan in an even layer and toast for about 10 minutes, or until golden.
• Strain the sauce into a bowl, pressing on the vegetables; skim any fat.
• Return the sauce to the casserole and boil over high heat until reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes.
• Return the vegetables and lamb to the sauce and keep warm.
• In a small bowl, mix the mint with the cilantro and almonds and season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan.
• Add the shallot and cook over moderately high heat until softened, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the couscous and cook until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the remaining 1 cup of chicken stock, the water and 1⁄4 teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and add the currants.
• Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Fluff with a fork and stir in half of the herb-almond mixture.
• Mound the couscous in the center of a large platter.
• Arrange the lamb shanks around the couscous and spoon the sauce on top.
• Sprinkle with the remaining herb-almond mixture and serve.

MOROCCAN LAMB SHANKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 150 degrees.
• Heat the oil in a large heavy-based flameproof casserole with a lid over high heat. In 2 batches, cook the lamb, turning, for 8-10 minutes or until evenly browned, Transfer lamb t a plate and set aside,
• In remaining oil on medium-high heat add leek, onion and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add harissa, cinnamon, star anise and orange zest, and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Add orange juice and white wine, and bring to the boil, Cook for 2-3 minutes or until wine mixture is reduced by half. Stir through apricots, dates, chick peas, tomatoes and stock, and bring to the boil, Return lamb to the casserole, then cover and transfer to oven. Cook for 3 hours 30 minutes or until meat begins to flake away from the bone.
• Increase oven temperature to 200 degrees and cook, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes or until the sauce has reduced and thickened.
• Meanwhile, using the heel of your hand, squash olives and discard pits.
• Scatter braised lamb with coriander leaves, crushed olives and smoked almonds to serve.